Continuous-rail joint and clamp.



No. 809,417. PATBNTED JAN. 9, 1906.

W. J. WILLIAMS. CONTINUOUS RAIL JOINT AND CLAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT, 3. 1905.

I, Ill

4 W I" 'l' WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

' By yh M.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONTINUOUS-RAIL JOINT AND CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed October 2,1905. Serial No. 280.915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Continuous-Rail Joints and Clamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact descriptionof the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to that class of rail joints and clamps which are used in the construction of railway-tracks, whereby a con tinuous rail is required; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a rail oint and clamp whereby a continuous, flush, and unbroken joint between the abutting ends of rails may be obtained and the same clamped firmly in proper alinement; second, to provide such a joint and clamp which may be easily and conveniently adjusted; third, to provide such a joint and clamp which will render the rails used therewith reversible, and, fourth, to provide such a joint and clamp which will attain a maximum of safety and at the same time afiord adequate provision for expansion and contraction of the rails. I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rail joint and clamp. Fig. 2 is an end view of the clamp adjusted upon the end of a rail. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the clamp-sections. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end of a rail used informing the joint. Fig. 5 is,a plan of the under side of the joint and clamp.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The letter a indicates a railway-rail, the tread b of which projects slightly beyond the pedestal c at either end and the extreme ends of which are beveled at an angle of forty-five degrees, said bevel receding from the projecting, end of the tread backward, as shown in Fig. 4. The base (1 of the rail a is cut away upon either edge and at both ends to form the notches e, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. It is apparent that the abutting beveled ends of two such rails placed in aline ment will coincide and form a continuous and unbroken rail and that the rails may be reversed end for end with the same result.

The letter E indicates a two-piece clamp,

each section 9 of which consists of a perpendicular jaw h, which is proportioned to fit against the side of the pedestal c of the rail between the base (1 and the tread b. Arecess 2', adapted to receive the flange of the base (i, and two pendent and inwardly-projecting feet m, one at either end of the clamp-section, are shown in Fig. 3. v

The inner face of the jaws h are slightly concaved for the purpose of presenting the upper and lower edges of the jaws directly to the face of pedestal of .rail for the purpose of giving to the jaws a cutting-like grip upon the rail, as shown in Fig. 2. Two lugs 12 project inwardly from the inner walls of the recess i, for the purpose of engaging the respective notches e of the rail-base d, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The notches e, out in the edge of the based, are slightly longer than the lugs n, engaged thereby, for the purpose of allow ing longitudinal movement by expansion and contraction of the metal thereof. The pendent feet m of the clamps are adapted to straddle the tie 90, upon which the clamp is mounted, and a notch 0 is cut into the side of each clamp for the purpose of engaging a spike p, which is driven into the underlying tie for the purpose of avoiding any longitudinal movement or creeping of the clamp. The inwardly-projecting arms m of the feet m are slightly bowed downwardly, and their inner edges 7" are slightly beveled, receding backward and upwardly for the purpose of presenting a single line of contact between the opposing edges of the feet of two companion clamps, as shown in Fig. 2. The pendent feet of the clamps are perforated at points 8 for the purpose of receiving bolts t, which pass immediately under the base of the rail and through the respective perforations in the sections 9 of the clamp. The bolts 23 are provided at one end with a head If and a threaded nut u at the other, whereby the bolt may be firmly tightened and the respective jaws of the clamp firmly set against the sides of the pedestal of the rail. As shown in Fig. 2, the beveled edges of the abutting arms m of the feet m coincide ina fulcrumlike manner at their lower edges, and consequently when the bolts 15 are tightened the jaws h are drawn tightly against the rail.

The advantages claimed for my invention over similar devices used prior hereto consist, first, in the peculiar design and construction of the rail ends whereby a more perfect alinement is maintained under continual useful, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

In a continuous-rail joint and clamp, the combination of two rails, provided with corresponding beveled ends adapted to coincide and with notched bases, adapted to engage lugs provided therefor, with a two-section clamp, consisting of two opposing jaws adapted to engage the sides of the rails, a recess in said jaws adapted to receive the base-flanges of the rails and pendent feet provided with inwardly-projecting arms, adapted to oppose one another beneath said rails, and two bolts adapted to bind the sections of the clamp together upon the rails all substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

J. B. BINDLEY, S. WAGGONER. 

